Educators in south-central Idaho say the state’s direct college admission initiative is working.

The strategy — which involves sending pre-admission notices to qualified 12th graders — was adopted by the Idaho Board of Education two years ago as a way to boost the number of degree holders in the state.

Under the new initiative, students are sent a letter in the fall of their senior year informing them which state colleges they are pre-qualified to attend. The decisions are based on grades and test scores.

Looking for information about community colleges and tools to advocate on their behalf?

Check out ACCT Now, a new resource that delves into trends and data affecting two-year colleges in the US. The site, which launched this month, is overseen by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).

“The site includes original reporting, research, and perspectives from ACCT’s public policy staff and guest authors, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates,” according to an email sent to supporters.

President Barack Obama wants young Americans to set their sights on higher education, and he’s asking parents, educators, and community leaders to help.

The commander-in-chief issued an official proclamation last week declaring November National College Application Month.

“This month, we recognize the limitless potential in every student and reaffirm our commitment to offering them the resources they need to succeed,” Obama said in his announcement. “Together, let us forge a future where every student has the opportunity to go as far as their dreams and hard work will take them.”

The study — funded by Change the Equation and the Amgen Foundation— showed that although students like science, they aren’t crazy about the way the subject is taught. In addition, many lack the out-of-school resources and connections needed to explore STEM careers on their own.

“Teens know what good science education looks like, but they lack engaging learning opportunities, career guidance, and professional mentors,” the report states. “Science advocates in our schools, businesses, and communities can change that.”

How will the next generation of students approach the college search and selection process?

Share your insights during an upcoming #NACACreads discussion of Generation Z Goes to College. Special guest and author Meghan Grace will take part in the Twitter chat and address how this new cohort of students views higher education.

Editor’s note: A version of this post was originally published on Admitted in December 2015.

For Gail Grand’s students, the college search process is about more than just picking a campus.

Teens complete an aptitude and interest test and explore careers before ever submitting applications. The strategy is a smart one.

Fewer than four in 10 college students graduate in four years, federal data show. And as tuition rates continue to grow, extra years in school can often mean additional debt.

Tapping into resources like the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) helps teens make wise college choices, said Grand, an independent college counselor based in California’s Westlake Village. It also increases students’ likelihood of graduating on time, she noted.

Good news is on the horizon: US employers plan to amp up their hiring in the coming months, and they’re looking for college grads.

Hiring of degree holders is expected to increase by 23 percent in 2016-17, according to a recruiting trends study conducted by Michigan State University.

“Our report shows that the hiring of college graduates has been moving at warp speed for the past two years,” Phil Gardner, survey author and director of the university’s Collegiate Employment Research Institution, said in a press release. “And signs in the early fall of 2016 point again to another explosive year of hiring.”